Ophthalmic mounting



July 17, 1934. 11 GREEN 1,966,717

OPHTHALMIC MOUNTING Filed Oct. 29. 1932 F I E :51

FIE L;

INVENTOR- Zou/s 0. Green ATTORNF Ys. 4

Patented July 17, 1934 UNETED STATES PATENT oFFICE 1 Claim.

This invention relates generally to ophthalmic mountings, particularly mountings of the character which utilize bow pieces for engaging behind the ears of the wearer.

Ophthalmic mountings of the above character frequently afford great discomfort to the wearer. Much of this discomfort is caused by the manner in which the bow pieces engage the ears, particularly where these parts are made of relalO tively thin metal to avoid unsightliness. The engagement of the curved portions of the bows is generally confined to a few localized regions, and the area of contact thus afiorded is so small that the bow tends to press into the fiesh to a substantial degree.

It is an object of the present invention to promote the comfort of ophthalmic mountings by a simple adaptation or attachment which can be applied to present day mountings of con- 0 ventional construction.

More specifically it is an object of the present invention to afford better bearing or contact between the curved portions of the bow pieces and the ears of the wearer, whereby ophthalmic mountings having bow pieces of relatively thin construction can be worn with utmost comfort.

Further objects of the invention will appear from the following description in which the preferred embodiments of my invention have been set forth in detail, in conjunction with the accompanying drawing.

Referring to the drawing:

Figure 1 is a perspective view,

, my invention incorporated in an 0 mounting of standard construction.

Fig. 2 is a side elevational View, showing the manner in which the bow of my ophthalmic mounting engages behind the ear.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged side elevational detail, showing one of my adjustable bearing members applied to a bow.

Fig. 4 is a cross sectional detail taken along the line 4-4 of Fig. 3.

5 Fig. 4a is a view similar to Fig. 4 but showing a modified construction employing rubber in place of metal.

Fig. 5 is a side elevational view, partly in cross section, illustrating a modified form of bearing member applied to a bow piece.

Fig. 6 is a cross sectional detail taken along the line 6-6 of Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is a side elevational view, illustrating a further modified form of bearing member incorporating the present invention.

illustrating ophthalmic Fig. 8 is a cross-sectional detail taken along the line 88 of Fig. 7.

In Fig. 1 I have shown an ophthalmic mounting including a bridge member 10 serving to connect the two lenses 11. The outer edges .69 of lenses 11 are connected to the two bow pieces 12, by the hinge connection 13. Portions 14 of the bow pieces 12 are curved, to fit behind the ear. The bow pieces in this instance are of relatively thin construction, being of spring metal wire or like material.

In place of permitting the curved portions 14- of the bow pieces to directly engage behind the ear, in my invention I provide each curved portion with bearing member 16. In the modification shown in Figs. 3 and 4, each bearing member 16 is in the form of an elongated bead, which is slipped over the bow piece, and which can be locked in any desired position by means of a set screw 17. It will be noted that the bearing members 16 are so proportioned or dimensioned, that when properly positioned upon the bow piece, they form substantially the sole support for the bow piece upon the ear. In other words the only contact with the ear, is to the bearing members 16, each of which afford a relatively large area of contact. It has been found that an ophthalmic mounting provided with bearing members of this character, can be worn with utmost comfort, even though the Y bow pieces may be of relatively thin construction. The bearing members when once fixed to a desired position, need not be further adjusted, and when positioned upon the car, they are not noticeable. In place of forming the bearing members of metal, they can be made entirely of resilient material, such as rubber, and shaped as shown in Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive. As illustrated in Fig. 4a, such a rubber bearing member can be provided with an aperture to receive a small quantity of cement 15, thus securing the same in a desired position.

A modified type of bearing member likewise utilizing resilient material such as soft vulcanized rubber is illustrated in detail in Figs. 5 and 6. In this case a cushion member is pro vided in the form of a button 18, made of soft vulcanized rubber. A sleeve 19 engages the bow piece 1%, and the button 18 is secured to sleeve 19 by screw 21. Screw 21 can also be employed to lock the bearing member to a desired adjusted position upon the bow piece, as shown in Fig. 6.

A further modification of the invention is il- I claim:

In an ophthalmic mounting, a bow formed of relatively thin spring metal having a curved end portion adapted to engage behind the ear, and a plurality of longitudinally and individually spaced bearing members adjustably secured to said curved portion, said bearing members being so proportioned as to afford augmented spaced areas of contact with the ear, and being adapted to retain the intervening parts of the bow out of direct contact with the ear.

LOUIS D. GREEN. 

